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Trump Says Transgender People Will Not Be Allowed in the Military

President Trump arriving with the first lady, Melania Trump, in Vienna, Ohio, for his rally on Tuesday. Credit Doug Mills/The New York Times

WASHINGTON — President Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States will no longer “accept or allow” transgender people in the United States military, saying American forces “must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory” and could not afford to accommodate them.

Mr. Trump made the surprise declaration in a series of posts on Twitter, saying he had come to the decision after talking to generals and military experts, whom he did not name.

The sweeping policy decision was met with surprise at the Pentagon, outrage from advocacy groups and praise from social conservatives. It reverses the gradual transformation of the military under President Barack Obama, whose administration announced last year that transgender people could serve openly in the military. Mr. Obama’s defense secretary, Ashton B. Carter, also opened all combat roles to women and appointed the first openly gay Army secretary.

The shift was announced with such haste that the White House could not answer basic inquiries about how it would be implemented. Chief among those questions was what would happen to the thousands of openly transgender people currently serving on active duty.

“That’s something that the Department of Defense and the White House will have to work together as implementation takes place and is done so lawfully,” Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, said.

The policy would affect only a small portion of the approximately 1.3 million active-duty members of the military. About 2,450 are transgender, according to a study last year by the RAND Corporation, though the estimated number of transgender service members has varied.

The study found that allowing transgender people to serve openly in the military would “have minimal impact on readiness and health care costs” for the Pentagon. It estimated that health care costs would rise $2.4 million to $8.4 million a year, representing an infinitesimal 0.04- to 0.13 percent increase in spending for active-duty service members. Citing research into other countries that allow transgender people to serve, the study projected “little or no impact on unit cohesion, operational effectiveness or readiness” in the United States.

Are You Affected by Trump’s Ban on Transgender Service Members?

The New York Times would like to hear from people who are affected by President Trump’s decision to ban transgender people from military service.

Officials at the Pentagon were caught off guard. They had been studying, per the orders of Mr. Mattis, how transgender troops in the military affect other service members, but not with a view toward removing transgender people from the military, several defense officials said.

In June, the administration delayed a decision on whether to allow transgender recruits to join the military. At the time, Mr. Mattis said an extra six months would give military leaders a chance to review its potential impact. Mr. Mattis’s decision to delay accepting transgender recruits for six months had been seen as a pause to “finesse” the issue, one official said, not a prelude to an outright ban.

What’s more, Mr. Mattis loathes wading into politically divisive social policy, the official said, noting that the defense secretary, who is on vacation this week, has taken pains to steer clear of Mr. Trump’s more partisan moves, and views the American military as a unifier of a divided country.

Gay and transgender rights groups and research organizations that have worked to craft policies around the military service of transgender individuals expressed outrage at the move.

“The president is creating a worse version of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’” said Aaron Belkin, the director of the Palm Center, referring to the Clinton-era policy in which gay and lesbian people could not openly serve in the military.

Mr. Belkin said that “discredited” policy had harmed readiness, and Mr. Trump’s new one would have similar effects.

“This is a shocking and ignorant attack on our military and on transgender troops who have been serving honorably and effectively for the past year,” he added.

Joshua Block, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBT & HIV Project, called the move “an outrageous and desperate action,” and asked transgender military service members to get in touch with the organization, saying it was “examining all our options on how to fight this.”

“The thousands of transgender service members serving on the front lines for this country deserve better than a commander in chief who rejects their basic humanity,” Mr. Block said.

Mr. Trump’s abrupt decision will likely end up in court; a nonprofit group that represents gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the military immediately vowed to sue.

“We are committed to transgender service members,” the group, OutServe-SLDN, said in a statement. “We are going to fight for them as hard as they are fighting for the country. And we’re going to start by taking the fight to Donald Trump in the federal court.”

Matthew F. Thorn, executive director of OutServe, said Mr. Trump’s decision was a slap in the face of transgender service members.

“We have transgender individuals who serve in elite SEAL teams, who are working in a time of war to defend our country, and now you’re going to kick them out?” Mr. Thorn said in an interview.

The move drew praise from Tony Perkins, the president of the conservative Family Research Council, which had opposed the Pentagon spending bill over the dispute about paying for gender reassignment surgery. On Wednesday, Mr. Perkins said he would now support the legislation, effectively sending a message to conservative Republican lawmakers that they would not pay a price with their core supporters for voting for it.

“I applaud President Trump for keeping his promise to return to military priorities — and not continue the social experimentation of the Obama era that has crippled our nation’s military,” Mr. Perkins said in a statement. “The military can now focus its efforts on preparing to fight and win wars rather than being used to advance the Obama social agenda.”

Mr. Carter issued a statement objecting to the decision, both for its effect on the military and on those considering joining.

“To choose service members on other grounds than military qualifications is social policy and has no place in our military,” Mr. Carter said. “There are already transgender individuals who are serving capably and honorably. This action would also send the wrong signal to a younger generation thinking about military service.”

And Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, condemned Mr. Trump’s sudden announcement, saying it muddied policy and that anyone who is fit to serve should be allowed to do so.

“The president’s tweet this morning regarding transgender Americans in the military is yet another example of why major policy announcements should not be made via Twitter,” said Mr. McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island and the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, noted that Mr. Trump made his decision public on the anniversary of Harry Truman’s order desegregating the United States military. “President Trump is choosing to retreat in the march toward equality,” Mr. Reed said in a statement.

“This was a divisive political move that exposes the president’s lack of faith in the professionalism of our armed forces,” Mr. Reed said, calling on Mr. Trump to review the facts and reverse his decision. “In the land of the free and the home of the brave, every American who is brave enough to serve their country should be free to do so.”

Correction: July 26, 2017
An earlier version of this article misstated the president’s tweet, saying he would not “allow or accept” transgender people in the military. He tweeted he would not “accept or allow” transgender people in the military. The error was also sent in an alert.

Trump-supporting drag queen feels wrath of LGBTQ community

BY STEVE ROTHAUS JULY 26, 2017 4:24 PM

Moments after Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday morning that transgender men and women could no longer serve in the military, LGBTQ activists took to social media and denounced the president of the United States — and Miami drag queen Elaine Lancaster.

“And this is the president Elaine Lanfraudster so vocally supports and constantly defends on Twitter. Shameful!” Wire magazine publisher Rafa Carvajal posted on Facebook, angry about Lancaster’s longtime vocal support of Trump.

Earlier this month, James Davis — Lancaster’s real-life persona — joined a CNN panel and told viewers that his decades-long career had been “blackballed” for openly supporting the nation’s 45th president.

“I come from a community that touts that we are so inclusive, we are so embracing of what’s different, all we ask for is tolerance and equality,” Davis told the Miami Herald after the CNN interview. “I make a living as a female impersonator in the state of Florida. I have hosted all the major events — White Party for 19 years. When I came out as a supporter of Trump, I was blackballed instantly. They got online campaigns. I was thrown off the [White Party] committee. I couldn’t be the emcee anymore. I got death threats. I have lawsuits pending against people. Oh, it’s horrible.”

Wednesday afternoon, though, Davis’ support for Trump didn’t include the president’s tweet that “the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S, military.”

“I really don’t know what to say,” Davis told the Herald on Wednesday. “I have to process it. I think he should expand freedoms and equality instead of restricting them. If transgender people want to serve in the military, they should be allowed to.

“I feel for people who are transgender and currently serving who may be asked to vacate their posts. But I would hope they would be given honorable discharges.”

Davis isn’t alone among queer conservatives who split with Trump on the transgender military issue. Wednesday morning, the national LGBT Log Cabin Republicans group — which in 2016 declined to endorse Trump, unlike the Miami chapter — criticized the commander-in-chief.

After President Donald Trump announced that transgender people could not serve in the U.S. military, LGBTQ activists denounced Miami drag queen Elaine Lancaster for her support of Trump.

“The president’s statement this morning does a disservice to transgender military personnel and reintroduces the same hurtful stereotypes conjured when openly gay men and women were barred from service during the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ era,” the group said in a statement. “As an organization that led the charge against that hateful policy, Log Cabin Republicans remains equally committed to standing up for transgender military personnel who put their lives on the line to keep us free.”

Many LGBTQ activists throughout Florida raged Wednesday, some blaming Davis (a registered independent) and other lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people who have supported Trump and the GOP.

“It’s very clear to anyone who God gave the brain of billy goat to that [Trump] doesn’t give a f–k about us. But yet they, the ‘Roaches for Raid,’ will go and march and stand up for this man who won’t be bothered by them. That just irks me,” said Dale Wilson, also known as South Florida DJ/performance artist Power Infiniti.

“Elaine wants to go and cry and paint herself as a victim when the entire SAGA (Sexuality And Gender Acceptance) community is suffering, little by little, by this president and his administration. Yet we should be concerned for her,” Wilson said. “She is not the only gay person who supported Trump. But she has made such an effort to paint herself as the token idiot for the village idiot. Of course, things come back to her because she’s the loudest mouth.”

The animosity toward Davis began brewing long before Wednesday.

“The community members should have rallied around said, ‘What can we do to calm this down. Instead they stayed out of the way and allowed this to fester and boil over,” Davis said. “I don’t have anybody who’s hiring me right now.”

Elaine Lancaster is a former “Real Housewives of Miami” co-star who once presided over White Party, Miami Beach Gay Pride and countless other social events as one of South Florida’s most recognized drag performers. She has been photographed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach and with first lady Melania Trump on the set of “Celebrity Apprentice.”

Davis, 53, says the hate is not directed at him simply because he likes the president.

“It’s not just because I support Trump, because many others do, too,” Davis continued. “It’s because they don’t like Elaine Lancaster. They’re jealous of her because of her success and perhaps she thinks a little too highly of herself.”

Even friends, like Jon Welsh, say Davis is at times a bit hard to take.

“She could do a lot more to be nicer to people, too,” said Welsh, a Care Resource employee who has worked with Davis at White Party, the organization’s HIV/AIDS fundraiser. “She’s no Princess Diana, honey.”

Still, Davis is hard-working and goodhearted, Welsh said.

“She might be a lot of things, but her work ethic — I admire that. Just suck it up. Just show up. And you’re smiling and you’re there to the very end,” Welsh said. “I don’t agree with all she says politically, but I admire her personally.”

Carvajal, though, says he’s “had enough.”

“Honestly, it’s completely disgusting. It’s been going on a long time and it’s time people put her in her place and know what she’s all about.”

On national television and online, Davis recently doubled down on his support for Trump — and his right to speak his mind. He said the controversy speaks to growing intolerance on both sides of the political spectrum.

“It took me a long time to fall in love with Miami. And I’m not going to go anywhere else. I’m not going to let a few nasty, unhappy, pathetic people who are so petty and are keyboard commandos to deter my love for a place I call home,” said Davis, who moved to Miami on July 15, 1997, the same day fashion designer Gianni Versace was slain outside his Ocean Drive mansion.

“Now, they say, ‘Oh, we can’t have Elaine she’s too controversial. And I know that from my phone not ringing,” Davis said. “Have I been called for one thing for Swim Week? No. Art Basel? I can’t announce anything on social media that’s coming up because they’ll call and get me fired. That’s not America. The oppressed is now the oppressor.”

Carvajal said he doesn’t feel sorry for Davis, even if his livelihood is endangered.

“It is not fair to discriminate against someone. But it is fair to choose who you support or don’t support based on their views. And you cannot have it both ways,” Carvajal said. “You cannot for years claim to be an LGBTQ leader and then openly and vocally support someone who wants to take away the rights of the LGBTQ community.”

Story 2: Senate Fails To Pass Senator Rand Paul’s Total Repeal Amendment — Tea Party Revival Calling For Primary Challenge Against Rollover Republican Senators Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Susan Collins of Maine, Dick Heller of Nevada, John McCain of Arizona, Rob Portman of Ohio, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — All Republicans in Name Only — Really Big Government Democrats — Videos

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Obamacare repeal bill fails in Senate

by Robert King | Jul 26, 2017, 3:52 PM

The Senate on Wednesday rejected an amendment to gut Obamacare without a replacement ready to go, a bill identical to a 2015 measure that passed Congress.

Senators voted 45-55 on the measure, with seven Republicans and all Democrats voting no. The Republicans voting no were Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Susan Collins of Maine, Dick Heller of Nevada, John McCain of Arizona, Rob Portman of Ohio, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Only Collins voted against the measure in 2015..

The Senate vote is part of a larger debate on how to repeal and replace Obamacare. The bill was expected to fail, as many Republican senators were uncomfortable with voting on repeal without an immediate replacement.

The bill is identical to a 2015 measure that passed Congress that would gut Obamacare’s taxes and mandates but leave in place insurer regulations. The bill would have let Obamacare stay in place for two years while a replacement was crafted. Former President Barack Obama vetoed the legislation in 2015.

The Senate leadership took up the bill as part of a debate on repeal that was started in a narrow vote Tuesday.

A vote for a bill that would have repealed and replaced Obamacare immediately, the Better Care Reconciliation Act, also failed late Tuesday.

The goal of Republican Senate leaders appears to be to vote on a “skinny” repeal of only Obamacare’s individual and employer mandate and medical device tax. The “skinny repeal” would serve mainly as a vehicle to start a conference with the House to iron out a new health bill.